Who knows? Maybe Mehlhaff will be the second coming of Morten Andersen, the Saints' fourth-round selection in the 1982 NFL draft and sure-fire first-ballot inductee in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Andersen also kicks left-footed and played at a Big Ten school (Michigan State).

The comparisons end there.

Mehlhaff has yet to break a sweat in a regular-season NFL game -- that will come today against Al Davis' Oakland Raiders at the Superdome -- and Andersen has established a bushel-full of records during an illustrious 25-year career, which, at the moment, appears to be finished.

Andersen came to mind during the fourth quarter of the Saints' crushing 30-27 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night when Martin Gramatica pulled a potential go-ahead 46-yard field goal attempt wide left with 1:59 remaining.

Times-Picayune Photo ArchiveMorten Andersen became a local legend with the Saints

By the time I reached The Great Dane to gauge his interest, Saints Coach Sean Payton already had placed Gramatica on injured reserve and penciled Mehlhaff in the snap-hold-kick rotation.

For the record, Andersen approached Payton about a job before the 2008 draft. Payton had no interest then and apparently has no interest now.

Who can blame the coach? After all, Payton is three years younger than Andersen, who turned 48 on Aug. 19. Andersen believes he still can make an impact in the NFL. It's hard to disagree. In 2007, Andersen had the most accurate season of his career, converting 25 of 28 field-goal attempts (89.3 percent) for the Atlanta Falcons. Combined, Saints kickers -- Olindo Mare (10-of-17) and Gramatica (5-of-5) -- made 15 of 22 (68.2) in '07.

Andersen continues to kick and work out five days a week in the Atlanta area with the hope of catching on with a Super Bowl contender.

"It would have to be the right situation for me to come back, " said Andersen, the NFL's all-time leading scorer with 2,544 points. "I don't like being the last fiddle. I don't believe I'm on the Saints' short list or they would have called me by now. That's OK, that's OK. I'm moving on with my life, so it's OK. I've had a good run."

That is an understatement. At the moment, there is a more pressing matter.

On Dec. 7, Andersen will be 48 years, 110 days old, or one day older than George Blanda when he played in his last NFL game, Jan. 4, 1976, as a member of the Raiders in a 16-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC championship game at Three Rivers Stadium.

The Saints happen to be playing the Falcons on Dec. 7 at the Superdome. Let me paint the picture: The dreaded Dirty Birds . . . a sold-out stadium filled with crazy Black & Gold fans . . . and The Great Dane lifts his gifted leg one final time to become the oldest player in the NFL and help raise money for local hurricane victims. And at halftime, the Saints retire his No. 7 jersey, with Steve Weatherford's blessing, of course.

Andersen said he has discussed his idea with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and e-mailed his thoughts to Saints owner Tom Benson, General Manager Mickey Loomis and Payton.

"The commissioner liked the idea, so the ball is in their court, " Andersen said. "This is on my wish list. I would like to finish my career as a Saint, kick one more extra point or something in the Superdome and have my number (7) retired there.

"We could make it a big event and a fun culmination of my 25 years in the league and do some good for the people of New Orleans. This is how I want to go out, without distracting from what the Saints and the present players are trying to do -- winning games and winning a championship."

I hope the league and Saints officials can make it happen.

Meantime, Mehlhaff becomes the seventh Saints' place-kicker since Andersen's abrupt departure on the eve of training camp in 1995. The others are Chip Lohmiller, Doug Brien, John Carney, Billy Cundiff (missed two field-goal attempts in 2006, including a crucial 47-yarder against Chicago in the NFC championship game), Mare and Gramatica.

Carney (New York Giants) and Mare (Seattle) are kicking in the NFL.

"We are like (the Yankees') Mariano Rivera, coming in to get one out with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth for the win, " Andersen said. "In my case, I got to throw one strike. I got to put it through the pipes with two seconds to go when we need a 45-yarder. That's my job description. I'm a closer. I have to close the game.

"You have to welcome that type of situation. It's not pressure. Pressure only occurs if the task at hand is bigger or more difficult than your skill."

Time will tell if Mehlhaff is up to the task.

. . . . . . .

Brian Allee-Walsh can be reached at ballee-walsh@timespicayune.com or at 504.826.3805.